Social media trends are a key test of supply chain resilience
By Tim Deeker-Harris, Vice President at Proxima Anyone for splitting the G? The Guinness shortages of 2024 showed how a viral social media trend can disrupt global [...]
Social media drives 1.7 billion annual visits to UK high streets
New American Express research finds almost two-thirds of UK adults have visited a shop or hospitality venue after being influenced by content they saw on social media [...]
Supermarket growth cools after end of May heatwave while World Cup fever drives surge in online and promotional spending
Warmer weather and start of the World Cup created a boost in rapid delivery, which saw its highest share of online sales (12.8 percent) this year Promotional [...]
Father’s Day spending to net £1.3bn but consumer confidence keeps retailers on the back foot
Father’s Day spending is set to reach £1.3bn in 2026, representing growth of +3 percent year-on-year according to the latest findings from retail and shopper marketing agency, Savvy. Carried out [...]
Card spending returns to growth in May, as consumer confidence begins to show signs of recovery
Confidence in the UK, European and global economies all climbed, and concerns about rising energy, fuel and food prices began to ease Both essential and non-essential spending [...]
Spring fashion and cross-shopping trends drive standout performance at Eldon Square
New data from Eldon Square has revealed strong engagement with fashion and lifestyle shopping categories this spring, with April total centre sales rising +4.5 percent year-on-year (+1.3 [...]
36 percent of shoppers have used AI to help buy groceries, with most using it to compare prices
Consumers are increasingly turning to AI to compare prices, research products and even buy groceries, transforming everyday shopping habits. Rithum, a global commerce operations platform, has released [...]
Brits spend 370 million hours a month on parcel admin
Consumers spend 66 hours a year managing deliveries and returns, as parcels become part of everyday life Quadient, a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, has [...]
2026 World Cup to generate a record £2.90bn for retail
UK consumers set to spend £3.80bn over the 2026 World Cup tournament 26.4 million people expected to make a retail purchase for the World Cup Grocery retailers [...]
Brits set to stock up ahead of the long weekend
Zilch, the intelligent payments platform, has analysed its UK transaction data from grocery and home & DIY retailers around past late May Bank Holidays, to determine consumers’ [...]
World Cup 2026 set to drive a new wave of retail spend as fans shop the moment, not just the match
As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, analysis and forward-looking insights from unified commerce Shopify Plus agency Visualsoft suggest the tournament will trigger a [...]
Spending falls -0.1 percent in April after 16 months of growth, but consumers show resilience amid ongoing uncertainty
Non-essential spending declined -0.3 percent, while essential spend was propped up by a 10.4 percent uplift in fuel While 72 percent cite cost-of-living concerns, the majority remain [...]
Shoppers spend big: £17m boost from Mothering Sunday and early Easter build up
Spring weather saw shoppers spending more at major UK supermarkets, with sales up +9.3 percent (w/e 14th March). Earlier than usual Easter offers accounted for 24 percent [...]
Google data reveals 2026 Easter trends driven by bespoke gifting, digital kitchens, and high-end indulgence
New search data from Google and YouTube has revealed a fundamental shift in how British consumers are approaching Easter 2026. As the long weekend approaches, the UK [...]
Easter sales forecast to rise 14 percent as shoppers balance value with higher spend
Easter is set for a stronger performance in 2026 according to the latest insights from retail and shopper marketing agency, Savvy. Carried out across a representative sample of [...]
Mother’s Day is no longer a last-minute rush as shoppers spread demand and embrace more flexible delivery options
Order volumes rise +8.47 percent YoY across the week, with no single peak day dominating demand Faster and more flexible delivery options surge as shoppers balance planning [...]
Mother’s Day boom – UK shoppers forecast to hit £18bn in 2026
Retail spending for Mother’s Day is forecast to reach £18bn in 2026 (representing 15 percent growth Year on Year) according to the latest insights from retail and shopper [...]
Early week surge drives Valentine’s e-commerce uplift as shoppers prioritise speed and weekend delivery
Order volumes peaked on Sunday 8th February (+102.5 percent YOY) and Monday 9th February (+76.3 percent YOY) ahead of Valentine’s Day Weekend delivery (+43.9 percent) and Next [...]
Valentine’s Day shopping goes agentic as Checkout.com data reveals rise in AI-led gifting
Over a quarter of Brits would let an AI agent shop for Valentine’s Day, and 42 percent already use AI to choose gifts. Checkout.com payments data shows [...]
Valentine’s Day e-commerce tips to boost sales and repeat customers
By Andrew Scanlon, Head of Sales and Marketing at Staci Valentine’s Day is increasingly becoming a prime opportunity for retailers. No longer just about couples, the rise [...]
June 2026 issue
2026 A1 Buyers Guide
